Hat-brim-curling machine



June l0, 1930. s. .1. MILLER 1,762,557

HAT BRIM CURLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l INV NT R @T4/5@ 4@ mgm [1E @u ATTORNEY ,June 10, v1930. s. J. MILLER 1,762,557

HAT BRIM CURLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @A s. so@

`une l0, 1930. s. J. MILLER HAT BRIM CURLING MACHINE Filed ec 29. 1927 nurnwww Q QQnATrORNEY "fm im Patented June 10, 1930 U. N EL STEPHEN 3. MILLER, F DANBURY, CONNECTICUT HAT-BRIM-CURLING MACHINE Application filed December. 29, 1927... SeriaLNo. 243,324..

Thisinventionrelates to hat brim curling machines. One. of the objects thereof is to provide a hat brimcurling machine which is accurate and thoroughly dependable in oper- .'ation.l AnotheiI object is to provide a ma- V chine of the above nature capable of producingk curls in a wide variety of sizes and capable of dependably producing a curl as large as desired. Another object is to provide a i0. machine of the above nature'which operates withuniform accuracy and without danger of injuring the hats. Another object is, to pro- Videa machine of the above nature which is simple to operate and easy to adjust. Other 15s objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The inventionr accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements,` and arrangements of parts as will be 29j exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In-the accompanying drawings, in which is 25 shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a top plan view partly broken away;

Figure 2 is a side view of the right-hand.

30- side of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail view showing a gaging device as viewed from the side;

Figuree is a side elevation from 'the side of the machine opposite to that viewed in .50j Figure 2 and with parts broken away; Figure 5 is a plan view, on a larger scale4 and with parts broken away, showing ycurling, feeding and gaging devices;

Figure 6 is a front view of the parts shown 4.0; in Figure l Figure 7 is a view taken as indicated by the section line 7 7 in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure Gshow.- ing only a portion of ythe parts seen in Figj ure 6;

Figure 9 is a section taken as indicated by the line 9 9 in Figure 8, and

Figure 10 is a view from the rear of Figure 8 Showing the rear side of parts of the gaging mechanism.

- Similar reference charactersrefer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and first to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a main supporting frame in the form of a horizontal table or-platform 10 upon which is supported the hat to be curled and by which the various mechanisms ofthe machine are conveniently supported also. is supported at a suitable height as by means of legs 11 shownin Figure 2. The machine may be driven by any suitable source of power which is illustratively shown herein as a driving'belt 12 (Figure 2) passing over a pulley 13 which is fixed upon a main driving, shaft 14 projectingA rearwardly from, the frame andbeneath thelevel of the table 10.

As shown more clearly in Figure 1l, the

mainframe, ortable 10 has an upwardly proj ectingfframe portion 15 provided with a rearwardly extending arm 15a. This frame portion15 maybe formed integrally with the table 10 or may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. Carried by the frame portion 15 is what may be termed an auxiliary frame portion 16 which has at its forward end a part16@L overhanging the table 10. In this frame 16, is rotatably carried a shaft 17. At the rear end of the frame portion 15a are a pairof vertically extending spaced arms 18 between which is a vertically extending link 19 (Figure 2) supported by a pin 2O at its lower end. At'its upper end the link 19 supportsA the rear end of the frame 16 by a suitable pivotal connection shown at 21 in Figure2. Thek frame 16, carrying the shaft 17, is thus supported so that it may move bodily forwardly'and rearwardly and so that its forward end may move upwardly and downwardly, swinging about the pivotal mounting at its rear end. The shaft 17`is driven by means of a belt 22 passing over a pulley 23 on the driving shaft 1e and over a pulley 211 on the rearend of the shaft 17.

Atthe rforward end of the shaft 17 is a bevel gear 25 which meshes with a bevel gear 26 fixed upon a shaft 27 (Figure A) extending downwardly through the frame portion 16a.- At the lower end of the shaft 27, adjacent the The table 10 4l! the arms 31 is a frame member 32. Threaded through the frame member 32 is a set screw 33 provided with a locking nut 34. The screw 33 limits the upward movement of the forward end of the frame 16 underv the urge of the spring 30 and t-hus limits the forward movement of the tool 28.

Referring to Figure 2, between the rear end of the frame portion 15dV and the link 19' is a spring 35 which urges the frame 16 rearwardly, urging the curling tool 28 rearwardly also. Thus, the curling tool 28 is pressed by the springs 30 and 35 rearwardly and upwardly against the walls of the curlingV shackle 29.

As shown in Figure 4, on the front end of the driving shaft 14 is a worm gear 36 meshing with a gear 37. Referring to Figure 2, the gear 37 drives a feed roller 38 and, through gears 39 and 40, a feed roller 41. rThe feed roller 38 maybe called the outer feed roller and the feed roller 41 maybe called the inner feed roller, since the feed rollers grip an upturned edge portion of the hat brim with the feed roller 41 on the inner side and adjacent the crown of the hat and with the feed roller 38 on the outer side or remote from the crown of the hat.

tilll referring to Figure 2,the inner feed roller 41 is rotatably supported from above in the outer end 42a of a frame member 42 extending rearwardly along the side of the frame portion 15a. This frame member 42 is slidable forwardly and rearwardly to move the feed roller 41 away from the feed roller 38 to grip and release the hat brim. A spring 43 urges the frame 42 rearwardly and holds the feed rollers 41 and 38 together, also holding the gears 39 and 40 in mesh.

Adjacent to the entrance end of the curling shackle 29 and adjacent to the feed rollers 38 and 41 is a curved substantially upright wall 44 which is clearly seen in Figures 1 and 2.

- This wall performs the function of guiding the upturned edge `portion of the brim toward the feed rollers and into the curling shackle. Associated with this wall 44 is a gaging device which includes a rearwardly extending member 45 shown also in Figures 1 and2. This member 45 is slidable forwardly and rearwardly along the side of the frame and is urged rearwardly by a spring46 at the rear end t iereof. Also, the member 45 is adjustable in a vertical direction by means of an adjusting screw 47 passing through a bracket on the sliding frame member 42, I

Underneath the frame is a bell crank lever 48 which is pivoted at 49. Connected to this lever at its forward end is a suitable rod 50 which is connected to a foot treadle. The rear end of the lever 48 is connected to move the frame 16 forwardly against the action of the spring 35, to move the frame member 42 forwardly against the action of the spring 43 and to move the gaging member 45 forwardly against the action of the spring 46, when the lever is swung about its pivotby depressing the foot treadle.

1t may be here pointed out that the machine as thus far described is'substantially the same as that described in my Patent No. 1,508,802 issued September 16, 1924. Reference may be had to the said patent for any details of construction which are 'not made clear by the foregoing description. Also, referring to Figure 4, this machine is provided with a roller 51 which engages theinner side of the crown of the hat 52 and urges the hat toward the curling and feeding devices.v This roller 51 is connected by a bell crank lever 53 to the bell crank 48 so that, when the foot treadle is depressed, the roller 51 is retracted. Thus, when' the foot treadle is depressed, the curling tool 28 is moved away :sol

from the curling shackle, the feed rollers are l Vupon by the various devices and, when the foot treadle is then released, the curling of the hat brim takes place. The details of the roller 51 and its connection will beclearby reference to my above-mentioned patent.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the

curling shackle 29 is seen to comprise a curved wall having an upwardly curvingl portion 29a terminating in a portion 29b curving inwardly toward the crown of the hat and overhanging the brim of the hat'. As viewed in Figure 5the entrance end of the curling shackle is the right-hand end thereof, and the feed rollers 38 and'41` are positioned closely adjacent to this entrance end of the shackle. The rotating button 28 is positioned within the shackle and near the entrance end thereof. Tn Figures 5 and 6 the brim 52a of the hat is Vshownr being fed through the machine and curled. To insert the hat, as hereinbefore described, the gaging member 45, the feed roller 41, the button 28 and the roller 51 are moved in a direction toward the crown of the hat by means of the foot treadle as hereinbeforev described. Thereupon, an edge portion 52b of the brim is turned upwardly by hand, the hat beingy gripped by the brim, and this upturned edge portion is inserted so that it extends beneath the gaging member 45, between the feed rollers and between the button 28 and the curling shackle 29. The gaging member predetermines the size of the curl which is produced in the brim. `When the hat is inserted the brim edge is placed in engagement with the lower surface of the member 45 and then, when the foot treadle is released and the operation of the machine starts, the turned up width of brim determined by the gaging member 45 determines the size of curl pro duced. As seen in Figure 6, the gaging member 45 has at its inner end a downwardly extending part 54 which bears against Vthe inner side of the upturned brim portion and holds the upturned brim portion against the wall 44 under the urge of the spring 46 (Figure 2). The wall 44 has therein a vertical slot 56 extending downwardly from its upper edge. Referring particularl to Figure 9, slidably mounted upon the wall 44 at the slot 56 is a substantially U-shaped member havn ing a part 57 resting against the inner surface of the wall, a part 58 resting against the outer surface of the wall and a part 59 extending through the slot 56. In the top surface of the part 59 is a slot or groove 60 in which the gaging member 45 rests and in which it is slidable as hereinbefore described. The inner surface of the wall 44 is recessed shown at 61 in Figure 8 to receive the part 57 so that the surface of the part 57 rests Hush with the inner surface of the wall 44. rEhe member 57-58-59 is slidable in a vertical direction on the walll 44, or in a direction lengthwise of the vertical slot 56. The unt derside of the outer part 58 is recessed and inserted in this recess is a spring 62 which bears against the surface of the table 10 and urges the member upwardly. Thus, the sliding member 57-58 59 bears upwardly against the gaging member 45 and these two parts are always held in engagement by the spring 62. Thus, as the'gaging member 45 iS adjusted in a vertical direction by means of the adjusting screw 47 (Figure 2) the U- shaped member moves vertically therewith.

The part 57 keeps the slot 56 continually closed at the portion of the wall 44 against which the upturned brim portion 52 Ybears and it continually maintains a smooth regular surface for the brim portion to move across regardless of the position into which the gaging member is adjusted for different sizes of curl. It is important that the portion of the wall 44 against which the hat brim bears be free from slots or other openings which permit the upturned portion of the brim to bend outwardly and which seriously affect the accuracy of the curling operation.

The feed rollers 38 and 41, as best seen in Figure 7, are positioned at a substantial distance above the surface of the table 10. They grip a small edge part of the upturned brim portion, draw the brim across the surface of the wall 44 and'feed it through the curling shackle. The outer feed roller 38 is supported by a hub 63 which extends upwardly through the table 10 and is in driving engagement with the gear 37 by means of a collar 64. The gear 37 and the hub 63 are rotatably supported upon a stud shaft 65 as described in my said patent.

Considering now the operative position of the feed rollers 88 and 41, reference is made to Figure 5. As seen in this figure, the wall/44 and the upwardly curving wall 29a of the curling shackle preferably form a smooth curve by which the outermost portion of the brim is guided as the curling operation takes place. The opposed operative surfaces of the feed rollers are spaced inwardly toward the crown of the hat with respect to this line of the wall 29a and the wall 44. Referring again to Figure 7, the hub portion 63 of the outer feed roller 38 is reduced; the portion between the table 10 and the lower end of the feed roller is reduced in diameter preferably so that the surface thereof comes substantially into the smooth curve formed by the wall 44 and the wall 29a. As shown in Figure 7, this under-cut or cut away portion of the feed roller hub provides a space which permits the lower part of the upturned hat brim portion to belly outwardly, as shown at 52C. As the hat brim feeds through the machine and the rotating button 28 hammers the felt against the walls of the curling shackle, the reaction of the curling action causes this bellying effect in the portion of the hat brim passing through the feed rollers. The result is, in effect, that a curling act-ion, or a preliminary shaping of the lower part of the upturned brim portion is started as the brim passes through the feed rollers. As the brim passes through the feed rollers it is substantially in the shape shown in Figure 7, the extreme edge thereof being vertical and the adjoining portion being shaped to a resemblance ofthe curl which it is to have after passing through the curling shackle. Without the space being provided for this bellying action, the reaction of the curling device upon the portion of the brim gripped between the feed rollers tends to am the felt and interferes with the accuracy and tu' smoothness of operation.

As the upturned brim portion passes from the feed rollers, the extreme edge portion 52d, which has been gripped by the feed rollers. is turned over by the curling shackle and shrunk into place by the action of the heated shackle and the rotating button 28. Referring to Figure 5, the top wall 291 comes closely adjacent to the feed roller 88 at 29C. Adjacent the feed roller 41, however, the wall of the shackle is cut away so that the brim edge passes therebeneath at a point in the neighborhood of the point 66 which is spaced from the coacting operative surfaces of the feed rollers. By shaping the shackle substantially as shown in Figure 5, the turning over of the brim portion which has been gripped by the feed rollers occurs at a point spaced a. substantial distance beyond the point at which it leaves the grip of the rollers. This construction overcomes the tendency for the action of the curling device to pull the upturnedbrim portion downwardly out of the grip of the'feed rollers and avoids undue strain upon the edge portion of the felt brim, resulting in the production of a better and more'unitorm curl without danger of harming the hat.

This machine is capable of dependably producing curls in hat brims a wide variety of sizes Vand with dependably uniform results. The only attention which the machine requires is that of an operator to insert the hats and remove themv when the curling operation is completed. Once the gagingmember d5 has been set to give the desired size of curl, curls oi that size are uniformly producerv in the hats. The features of construction above described insure that the hats will not be injured and, also, they make it possible to produce large sized curls in a rapid and eliicient manner.

As many possible embodiments may b made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that al1 matter hereinbefore set torth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: v

1. ln a hat curling machine, in combination, means for producing a curl in a hat brim, a wall against which a portion of said brim bears for guiding said hat brim to said curling means, an adjustable gaging means for predetermining the size of the curl produced in said brim comprising a member movable in a slot in said wall in a direction transversely of the brim portion engaging said wall and having a part adapted to be en afred b the brim ed e and means tor g e a closing the portion of said slotin that Vpart of said wall against which said brim bears as it moves toward said curling means.

2. ln a hat curling machine, in combination, means 1or producing a curl in a hat brim, a substantially smooth Wall against which a portion ot said brim bears 'for guiding said brim to said curling means, an adjustable gaging means for predeterminingthe size of the curl produced in said brim comprising a member movable across said wall in a direction transversely of the direction of movement of said brim and having a part engaged by the ,brim edge, and means associated with said gage member for maintaining the smoothness and continuity of the wall portion against which the hatbrim `bears irrespective ot the position into which saidl to said shackle, said wall having therein a transverse slot, a gage member movable lengthwise of said slot and having a part adapted to be engaged by the brim edge to predetermine the size of curl produce-d, means for adjusting the position ot' said gage member in a direction lengthwise ot said slot, and means for maintaining closed the portion ot said slot in the kpart of said wall engaged by said brim. l I

4.. ln a hat curling machine, in combination, a curling shackle, a guiding wall adapted to be engaged by an upturned edge portion of the hat brim tor guiding said brim to said shackle, said wall having a shallow groove in the face thereof against which said hat brim bears andextending transversely thereof, a gaging device slidable in said groove having a part adapted to'be engaged by the brim edge to predetermine the size of curl produced, and means for maintaining the continuity of the taceot the wall, against which said hat brim bears, irrespective of the position of said gaging device along said groove.

5. ln a hat curling machine, in combination, a curling shackle, a guiding wall adapted to be engaged by an upturned edge portion of the hat brim for guiding said brim to said shackle, a member slidable upon said wall in a direction transversely thereof and adjustable in position in said direction, and a member supported on said rst member and slidable in a direction transversely of said irst Idirection, one of said members having a part adapted to be engaged by the brim edge to predetermine the size of curl produced and said last member having a part to engage the brim surface and hold said bent-up portion of the brim against said wall.

6. In a hat curling machine, in combination, a curling shackle, a gui-ding wall adapted to be engaged by an upturnededge portion of the hat brim tor guiding said brim to said shackle, said wall having therein a transverse slot, a gage member having a part adapted tov be engaged by the brim edge and a part adapted to hold said turned up brim portion toward said wall,said gage member'being adjustable in a direction lengthwise of said slot, and means moving with said gage member as it is adjusted in position adapted to maintain closed the portion of said slot in the part of said wall against which said brim portion is held.

In a hat curling machine, in combination, a curling shackle, a guiding wall adapted to be engaged by an upturned edge portion ot the hat brim for guiding said brim to said shackle, said wall havingtherein a transverse slot, a member slidable upon said wall in a direction lengthwise of said slot, a gaging member bearing against said slidable member and movable relative thereto in a direction transversely of said irstdirection, said gaging member having a part adapted to be engaged by the brim edge and a part extending at an angle to said rst part adapted to hold said bent up brim portion 4against the surface ofsaid wall, said slidable member having a part bearing against said wall and covering said slot.

8. In a hat curling machine, in combination, a curling shackle, a guiding wall adapted to be engaged by an upturned edge portion of the hat brim for guiding said brim to said shackle, said wall having therein a transverse slot, a member slidable upon said wall in a direction lengthwise of said slot, a gaging member bearing against said slidable member and movable relative thereto in a direction transversely of said first direction, said gaging member having a part adapted to be engaged by the brim edge and a part extending at an angle to said first part adapted to hold said bent up brim portion against the surface of said wall, said slidable member having a part bearing against said wall and covering said slot, means for adjusting the position of said gaging member in a direction lengthwise of said slot, and means for holding said sliding member and said gaging member together to move together as said gaging member is adjusted in position.

9. In a hat curling machine, in combination, a curling shackle, a guiding wall adapted to be engaged b-y an upturned edge portion of the hat brim for guiding said brim to said shackle, said wall having therein a transverse slot, a member slidable upon said wall in a direction lengthwise of said slot, a

gaging member bearing against said slidable member and movable relative thereto in a direction transversely of said first direction, said gaging member having a part adapted to be engaged by the brim edge and a part eX- tending at an angle to said first part adapted to hold said bent up brim portion against the surface of said wall, said slidable member having a part bearing aga-inst said wall and covering said slot, means for adjusting the position of said gaging member in a direction lengthwise of said slot, and spring means for continually holding said sliding member in engagement with said gaging member.

l0. In a hat curling machine, in combina? tion, a curling shackle, a guiding wall adapted to be engaged by an upturned edge portion of the hat brim for guiding said brim to said shackle, said wall having therein a transverse slot, a substantially U-shaped member having a part extending through said slot and a part bearing against each side of said wall,

a gaging member bearing against said U'- shaped member, one of said members having a part adapted to engage the brim edge to predetermine the size of curl produced, said gaging member having a part adapted to hold said bent up brim portion toward said wall, and means for adjusting said member as a unit in a direction lengthwise of said slot, said gaging member being movable relative to said. U-shaped member in a direction to clamp and release said brim portion.

1l. In a hat curling machine, in combination, a table for supporting the brim of a hat, a curling shackle comprising a wall curving upwardly from adjacent the level of said table and inwardly toward the crown of the hat, a tool within said shackle adjacent the entrance end thereof for cooperating there with to produce a curl in the hat brim, a substantially upright wall adapted to engage an upturned edge portion of the brim and guide said portion toward the entrance end of said shackle, a pair of feed rollers adjacent said end of saidl shackle for drawing the brim along said guiding wall and feeding it through said shackle, said feed rollers being positioned a substantial distance above said table and being adapted to grip the upper edge portion of said upturned brim portion, the coacting operative surfaces of said rollers being located inwardly toward the crown of the hat with respect to the upwardly curving wall of said shackle at the entrance end thereof, and a space being provided underneath the peripheral portion of the outer feed roller for permitting the lower portion of said upturned brim portion to belly outwardly as the brim passes through said feed rollers.

12. In a hat curling machine, a combina.- tion, a table for supporting the brim of a hat, a curling shackle comprising a wall curving upwardly from adjacent the level of said table and inwardly toward the crown of the hat, a tool within said shackle adjacent the entrance end thereof for cooper-ating therewith to produce a curl in the hat brim, a substantially upright wall adapted to engage an upturned edge portion of the brim and guide said portion toward the entrance end ofl said shackle, a pair of feed rollers adjacent said end of said shackle for drawing the brim along said guiding wall and feeding it through said shackle, said feed rollers being positioned a substantial distance above said table and being adapted to grip the upper edge portion of said upturned brim portion, the coacting. operative surfaces of said-rollers being located inwardly toward the crown ofthe hat with respect to the upwardly curving w-all of said shackle at the entrance endthereof, the inner feed roller beingv supported from above, the outer feed roller being mounted at the upper end of an upwardly projecting shaft, the diameter of said shaft. immediately below said Outer feed Y feed roller for permitting the lower portion of said upturned brim portion to belly outwardly as it passes through said feed rollers.

v13. In a hat curling machine, in combination, a table for supporting the brim of a hat, a curling shackle comprising a wall curving upwardly from adjacent the level of said table and inwardly toward the crown of the hat, a tool within said shackle adjacent the entrance end thereof for cooperating therewith to produce a curl in the hat brim, a substantially upright wall adapted to engage an upturned edge portion of the brim and guide said portion toward the entrance end of said shackle, a pair of feed rollers adjacent said end of said shackle for drawing the brim along said guiding wall and feeding it through said shackle, said feed rollers being positioned a substantial distance above saidtable and being adapted to grip the Lupper edge portion of said upturned brim portion, the top wall of said shackle being cut away at the entrance end of said shackle and adjacent said feed rollers so that the curling over of the edge part of the upturned brim portion is effected at a point spaced from the feed rollers thereby to avoid a pull on the brim tending to pull the edge portion downwardly out of the grip of the feed rollers as it passes therethrough.

14. In a hat curling machine, in combination, a table for supporting the brim of a hat, a curling shackle comprising a wall curving upwardly from adjacent the level of said table and inwardly toward the crown of the hat, a vtool within said shackle adjacent the entrance end thereof for cooperating therewith to produce a curl in the hat brim, a substantially upright wall adapted to engage an upturned edge portion of the brim and guide said portion toward the entrance end of said shackle, a pair of feed rollers adjacent said end of said shackle for drawing the brim along said guiding wall and feeding it through said shackle, said feed rollers being positioned a substantial distance above said table and being adapted to grip the upper edge portion of said upturned brim portion, the coacting operative surfaces of said rollers being located inwardly toward the crown of the hat with respect to the upwardly curving wall of said shackle at the entrance end thereof, and a space being provided underneath the peripheral portion of the outer feed roller for permitting the lower portion of said upturned brim portion to belly outwardly as thebrim passes through said feed rollers, the top wall of said shackle being cut away at the entrance end of said shackle and adjacent said feed rollers so that the curling over of the edge part of the upturned brim portion is effected at a point spaced from the feed rollers thereby to avoid a pull on the brim tending to pull the edge portion down# cember, 1927. Y STEPHEN J. MILLER. 

